Motor racing: Ferrari fans hold vigil on Schumacher's birthday

A message to mark the 45th birthday of seven-time Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher is projected by fans on the facade of the CHU hospital emergency unit in Grenoble, French Alps, where Schumacher is hospitalized on Jan 3, 2014. Ferrari fans held a vigil for Michael Schumacher on his 45th birthday on Friday, gathering outside the French hospital where the seven times world champion continued to fight for his life after a skiing accident. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

Fans of German Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher hold flags of the Ferrari Formula One team as they stand in front of the Grenoble University Hospital Centre, to mark his 45th birthday, on Jan 3, 2014. -- PHOTO: AFP

Fans of German Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher wear flags of the Ferrari Formula One team as they stand in front of the Grenoble University Hospital Centre, to mark his 45th birthday, on Jan 3, 2014. -- PHOTO: AFP

Fans of German Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher stand inside the Grenoble University Hospital Centre, to mark his 45th birthday, on Jan 3, 2014. -- PHOTO: AFP

Kids pose for photographers as they celebrate with a placard the 45th birthday of seven-time Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher in front of the CHU hospital emergency unit in Grenoble, French Alps, where Schumacher is hospitalised, on Jan 3, 2014. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

Kids celebrate with a placard the 45th birthday of seven-time Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher in front of the CHU hospital emergency unit in Grenoble, French Alps, where Schumacher is hospitalised, on Jan 3, 2014. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

A message to mark the 45th birthday of seven-time Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher is projected by fans on the facade of the CHU hospital emergency unit in Grenoble, French Alps, where Schumacher is hospitalized on Jan 3, 2014. Ferrari fans held a vigil for Michael Schumacher on his 45th birthday on Friday, gathering outside the French hospital where the seven times world champion continued to fight for his life after a skiing accident. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

Fans of German Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher hold flags of the Ferrari Formula One team as they stand in front of the Grenoble University Hospital Centre, to mark his 45th birthday, on Jan 3, 2014. -- PHOTO: AFP

Fans of German Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher wear flags of the Ferrari Formula One team as they stand in front of the Grenoble University Hospital Centre, to mark his 45th birthday, on Jan 3, 2014. -- PHOTO: AFP

Kids pose for photographers as they celebrate with a placard the 45th birthday of seven-time Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher in front of the CHU hospital emergency unit in Grenoble, French Alps, where Schumacher is hospitalised, on Jan 3, 2014. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

Kids celebrate with a placard the 45th birthday of seven-time Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher in front of the CHU hospital emergency unit in Grenoble, French Alps, where Schumacher is hospitalised, on Jan 3, 2014. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

GRENOBLE (REUTERS) - Ferrari fans held a vigil for Michael Schumacher on his 45th birthday on Friday, gathering outside the French hospital where the seven times world champion continued to fight for his life after a skiing accident.

Schumacher's family thanked the fans in a statement on Friday evening saying they were moved to tears while French media reported that investigators were studying a camera the German had on him at the time of the accident.

A few dozen fans had assembled outside the Grenoble hospital where Schumacher has been having treatment since Sunday's accident in the resort town of Meribel, in which he hit his head on a rock when he fell while skiing off piste.

"For us Ferrari fans, we are just like brothers, we are just one," said one fan, Mr Carlo Buschini, who raised his cap and blew kisses in the direction of Schumacher's hospital room.